Still wanna know: do both bases connect to the filament??
April 15, 2007 1:50 PM Subscribe
LampLamp!! Apparently the limited production run is already sold out....if both bases do connect, this thing is the most illegal/insane light bulb ever made. More.
I personally do not get the impression that both bases connect. As you say, that wouldn't even be safe. My impression is that the extra base is just, you know, decoration. But I too am unable to confirm.
posted by iguanapolitico at 1:58 PM on April 15, 2007
posted by iguanapolitico at 1:58 PM on April 15, 2007
(In the many photos I've found online, they only show it screwed in the one way, not the other.)
posted by iguanapolitico at 2:01 PM on April 15, 2007
posted by iguanapolitico at 2:01 PM on April 15, 2007
I wonder if jjg can confirm the safety of this product.
posted by Benjamin Nushmutt at 2:04 PM on April 15, 2007
posted by Benjamin Nushmutt at 2:04 PM on April 15, 2007
If the bases do connect imagine a beowulf cluster of these!
I'm sorry. I'll go stand in the corner now...
posted by SteveTheRed at 2:08 PM on April 15, 2007
I'm sorry. I'll go stand in the corner now...
posted by SteveTheRed at 2:08 PM on April 15, 2007
Couldn't it work, provided each base has its own filament? Or would it get too hot in there or somesuch?
posted by luftmensch at 2:11 PM on April 15, 2007
posted by luftmensch at 2:11 PM on April 15, 2007
All your base are connect to us.
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:29 PM on April 15, 2007 [3 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:29 PM on April 15, 2007 [3 favorites]
I fear if both bases connected to the same filament, and jjg did one of his selfless safety tests on it, we'd have to find someone new to fill that position.
I imagine if there were two filaments, the bulb could be created in such a way that it's perfectly safe. Not sure exactly why one would want to connect one bulb to two sockets at the same time, though, other than because they can-can-can! :) (Which, I suppose, is a good enough reason.)
posted by iguanapolitico at 2:36 PM on April 15, 2007
I imagine if there were two filaments, the bulb could be created in such a way that it's perfectly safe. Not sure exactly why one would want to connect one bulb to two sockets at the same time, though, other than because they can-can-can! :) (Which, I suppose, is a good enough reason.)
posted by iguanapolitico at 2:36 PM on April 15, 2007
Can someone explain this to me, or is it not worth it? Bases? Danger? What?
posted by fiercecupcake at 2:38 PM on April 15, 2007
posted by fiercecupcake at 2:38 PM on April 15, 2007
Meta pleeze!!! It's no doubt a dummy base. No one would want to risk being jailed for having an illegal light bulb.
posted by The Deej at 2:43 PM on April 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by The Deej at 2:43 PM on April 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
They could have separate filaments, or they could use some electronics to keep the exposed base from being electrified.
posted by delmoi at 2:51 PM on April 15, 2007
posted by delmoi at 2:51 PM on April 15, 2007
I fear if both bases connected to the same filament, and jjg did one of his selfless safety tests on it, we'd have to find someone new to fill that position.
Are you kidding? 120VAC is painful, but won't even give you a burn. I've been shocked a couple of times growing up.
posted by delmoi at 2:52 PM on April 15, 2007
Are you kidding? 120VAC is painful, but won't even give you a burn. I've been shocked a couple of times growing up.
posted by delmoi at 2:52 PM on April 15, 2007
Er.
Dear Digg refugees,
It's a fucking novelty bulb.
Illegal bulb. I'll bet it helps you fuck the RIAA too. Guh.
(Thanks, The Deej, I think it just bore repeating.)
posted by abulafa at 2:56 PM on April 15, 2007
Dear Digg refugees,
It's a fucking novelty bulb.
Illegal bulb. I'll bet it helps you fuck the RIAA too. Guh.
(Thanks, The Deej, I think it just bore repeating.)
posted by abulafa at 2:56 PM on April 15, 2007
I remember reading about this awhile back. IIt's a 30w globe bulb molded to resemble a soft white. The "soft white" connector's function is purely aesthetic.
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:03 PM on April 15, 2007
posted by Smart Dalek at 3:03 PM on April 15, 2007
How many "HI I'M ON METAFILTER AND I CAN OVERTHINKs" does it take to screw in a lightbulb?
posted by ZachsMind at 3:09 PM on April 15, 2007 [3 favorites]
posted by ZachsMind at 3:09 PM on April 15, 2007 [3 favorites]
You know what would be cool? A blue lamp lamp. And a frosty cola.
posted by DenOfSizer at 3:29 PM on April 15, 2007
posted by DenOfSizer at 3:29 PM on April 15, 2007
As a long-time fan of light bulbs, I agree that this truly is the most illegal/insane light bulb ever made.
Can I have my 5 minutes back now?
posted by Dizzy at 3:57 PM on April 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
Can I have my 5 minutes back now?
posted by Dizzy at 3:57 PM on April 15, 2007 [1 favorite]
This is what happens when two people get the same idea at once.
posted by hal9k at 4:47 PM on April 15, 2007 [4 favorites]
posted by hal9k at 4:47 PM on April 15, 2007 [4 favorites]
the most illegal/insane light bulb ever made
28 bucks is the insane part.
posted by Clave at 4:55 PM on April 15, 2007
28 bucks is the insane part.
posted by Clave at 4:55 PM on April 15, 2007
28 bucks is the insane part.
posted by Clave
Nah, I'm gonna vote that's the illegal part.
posted by The Deej at 5:33 PM on April 15, 2007
posted by Clave
Nah, I'm gonna vote that's the illegal part.
posted by The Deej at 5:33 PM on April 15, 2007
Hmm.. gimicky 30W incandescent for $28? Or a CFL that uses half as much energy to produce twice as much light at 1/5 the price.
Read: If these designers were so clever, they'd have designed a reusable fixture that looks like a soft-white, not another disposable $30 novelty.
posted by unmake at 6:34 PM on April 15, 2007
Read: If these designers were so clever, they'd have designed a reusable fixture that looks like a soft-white, not another disposable $30 novelty.
posted by unmake at 6:34 PM on April 15, 2007
Nah, what would have been a brilliant idea would be when the bulb burns out, being able to unscrew it, flip it around, and get another full bulbs life out of it.
As it is, it's just artsy, expensive, goofiness.
posted by quin at 7:01 PM on April 15, 2007
As it is, it's just artsy, expensive, goofiness.
posted by quin at 7:01 PM on April 15, 2007
I can't believe, personally, anyone thought it was anything other than a nice little novelty bulb with a fake second connector so it looked like it was attached wrong.
This is like, I don't know, seeing one of those floating faucets with water coming down and going "But what if it actually is suspended on the column of never-ending water!! You'd tuck the kid in because they had too much sugar.
As for the price/whatever, this is just where a site has some available bulb that's new and so they charge for the fact that you don't know where else to get one. Obviously if there can be money made doing knockoffs, we'd have $5 knockoffs in no time.
As for energy discussions, well, yes, let's turn any mention of light bulbs into an energy discussion, which is like turning any mention of erotica into a rant about world population. Give me a plug-in filter for removing that.
posted by jscott at 10:09 PM on April 15, 2007
This is like, I don't know, seeing one of those floating faucets with water coming down and going "But what if it actually is suspended on the column of never-ending water!! You'd tuck the kid in because they had too much sugar.
As for the price/whatever, this is just where a site has some available bulb that's new and so they charge for the fact that you don't know where else to get one. Obviously if there can be money made doing knockoffs, we'd have $5 knockoffs in no time.
As for energy discussions, well, yes, let's turn any mention of light bulbs into an energy discussion, which is like turning any mention of erotica into a rant about world population. Give me a plug-in filter for removing that.
posted by jscott at 10:09 PM on April 15, 2007
I hate to break it to you, but I'm pretty sure this light bulb is both legal and sane.
posted by O9scar at 10:15 PM on April 15, 2007
posted by O9scar at 10:15 PM on April 15, 2007
I can't believe, personally, anyone thought it was anything other than a nice little novelty bulb with a fake second connector so it looked like it was attached wrong.
Then, with respect, you've missed the bulk of the comments in this thread.
I hate to break it to you, but I'm pretty sure this light bulb is both legal and sane.
And since yesterday, where I now believe that neither applies anymore, I am outta here.
posted by quin at 11:27 PM on April 15, 2007
Then, with respect, you've missed the bulk of the comments in this thread.
I hate to break it to you, but I'm pretty sure this light bulb is both legal and sane.
And since yesterday, where I now believe that neither applies anymore, I am outta here.
posted by quin at 11:27 PM on April 15, 2007
I, for one, welcome our new Metafilter overthinkers.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 11:30 PM on April 15, 2007
posted by PeterMcDermott at 11:30 PM on April 15, 2007
I hate to break it to you, but I'm pretty sure this light bulb is both legal and sane.
Well, ok, maybe. But I can NOT take the chance that I may go to jail for owning one. As small a chance as that may be, I just can't risk it.
posted by The Deej at 11:31 PM on April 15, 2007
Well, ok, maybe. But I can NOT take the chance that I may go to jail for owning one. As small a chance as that may be, I just can't risk it.
posted by The Deej at 11:31 PM on April 15, 2007
jscott wrote: I can't believe, personally, anyone thought it was anything other than a nice little novelty bulb with a fake second connector so it looked like it was attached wrong.
But that just seems...insufficiently awesome. "Best of the Web" should be more than mere novelty.
posted by ryanrs at 3:20 AM on April 16, 2007
But that just seems...insufficiently awesome. "Best of the Web" should be more than mere novelty.
posted by ryanrs at 3:20 AM on April 16, 2007
Both bases do not connect. Are you on mushrooms or something?
posted by Mr_Zero at 4:55 AM on April 16, 2007
posted by Mr_Zero at 4:55 AM on April 16, 2007
I'd give them credit for creating a work of art able to inspire an inane discussion about whether it's a suicide cord in disguise, but I'd rather have my two minutes back.
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:55 AM on April 16, 2007
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:55 AM on April 16, 2007
You can screw this into two lamps at the same time, but only one will light it up.
posted by CynicalKnight at 7:08 AM on April 16, 2007
posted by CynicalKnight at 7:08 AM on April 16, 2007
God, I hate "Uncrate".
Their whole site is a lie, from the title down.
The ratio of things they actually do physically "uncrate" and look at to things about which they just regurgitate press releases is a comfortable 1:100.
(And when they do review something, they don't exactly bust themselves.)
There are, of course, lots of other sites and magazines like this, all of which are gaily contributing to the mindless gadget-whoring that makes it so hard to find things that're actually worth owning.
But most of them don't put such a big cheerful "fuck you, readers!" at the top of every page.
posted by dansdata at 9:10 AM on April 16, 2007
Their whole site is a lie, from the title down.
The ratio of things they actually do physically "uncrate" and look at to things about which they just regurgitate press releases is a comfortable 1:100.
(And when they do review something, they don't exactly bust themselves.)
There are, of course, lots of other sites and magazines like this, all of which are gaily contributing to the mindless gadget-whoring that makes it so hard to find things that're actually worth owning.
But most of them don't put such a big cheerful "fuck you, readers!" at the top of every page.
posted by dansdata at 9:10 AM on April 16, 2007
What a silly light bulb.
Voltage doesn't hurt you, delmoi, current does. In the configurations in which humans are likely to grab 120V, it's quite often no big deal. But it's far from safe.
And I think the contact in question would be 120V in the mouth. If that base were real, that would be really damn risky, from my point of view. I don't know if saliva is more conductive than skin, but I wouldn't want to find out. Further, if it contracted jaw muscles, the current could get high enough to fuck with your heart, if you can't get the bulb out quickly. Again, not an expert on how much current is required for muscle contraction, but I wouldn't want to find out that way. Current kills, and current is a product of resistance and time, coupled with the potential difference.
It only takes a few milliamps across the heart to send you into cardiac arrest (I forget the exact number, I think it's 6. But remember: that's across the heart). Whatever voltage gets you there will put you in a world of hurt. The big variables here are the time of exposure, the resistance at the contact point, and the place of exposure. It ain't the 120V nature that makes a contact with house wiring no big deal, it's the combination of those factors.
I certainly wouldn't put a light bulb in my mouth to find out if it was hot.
posted by teece at 2:16 PM on April 16, 2007
Voltage doesn't hurt you, delmoi, current does. In the configurations in which humans are likely to grab 120V, it's quite often no big deal. But it's far from safe.
And I think the contact in question would be 120V in the mouth. If that base were real, that would be really damn risky, from my point of view. I don't know if saliva is more conductive than skin, but I wouldn't want to find out. Further, if it contracted jaw muscles, the current could get high enough to fuck with your heart, if you can't get the bulb out quickly. Again, not an expert on how much current is required for muscle contraction, but I wouldn't want to find out that way. Current kills, and current is a product of resistance and time, coupled with the potential difference.
It only takes a few milliamps across the heart to send you into cardiac arrest (I forget the exact number, I think it's 6. But remember: that's across the heart). Whatever voltage gets you there will put you in a world of hurt. The big variables here are the time of exposure, the resistance at the contact point, and the place of exposure. It ain't the 120V nature that makes a contact with house wiring no big deal, it's the combination of those factors.
I certainly wouldn't put a light bulb in my mouth to find out if it was hot.
posted by teece at 2:16 PM on April 16, 2007
I certainly wouldn't put a light bulb in my mouth to find out if it was hot.
Well, except for this light bulb, because I'm sure the pretend base isn't hot. ;-)
posted by teece at 2:20 PM on April 16, 2007
Well, except for this light bulb, because I'm sure the pretend base isn't hot. ;-)
posted by teece at 2:20 PM on April 16, 2007
delmoi and teece -- it's generally accepted for industrial safety purposes that anything over 40V is potentially lethal. Not usually, but put in a wet floor, sweaty hands, and an electrical path through your chest cavity and you could be in big trouble.
posted by localroger at 5:31 PM on April 16, 2007
posted by localroger at 5:31 PM on April 16, 2007
Voltage doesn't hurt you, delmoi, current does.
At first, I read this as: Voltage doesn't hurt you, delmoi does.
I have clearly read too many Chuck Norris Facts.
posted by moss at 11:21 PM on April 16, 2007
At first, I read this as: Voltage doesn't hurt you, delmoi does.
I have clearly read too many Chuck Norris Facts.
posted by moss at 11:21 PM on April 16, 2007
I can't believe this didn't get deleted. I guess there are limits to tracing commercial interest via "self posts", or, I almost hesitate to ask, has Matt gone "viral"?
posted by telstar at 5:43 PM on April 18, 2007
posted by telstar at 5:43 PM on April 18, 2007
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posted by metasonix at 1:56 PM on April 15, 2007